Starting Points
Most of Kentucky’s schools align their council terms with the beginning of each academic year. With the 2026-2027 academic year right around the corner, school-based decision making (SBDM) council members should have been elected for each school and their first meeting scheduled. At those initial meetings, there are some important documents to review to ensure the council runs efficiently.
Every school council member should have copies of these basic documents governing the school’s work. These can be placed in a binder with room to add others as needed, or on a thumb drive or cloud drive. The following items are a place to start:
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School council policies: Policies are the written guidelines and procedures for the school to follow. These policies are developed and adopted by the school council. Include with the policies a checklist of the required policy areas and the date in which they were last reviewed and/or revised. Policies need to be reviewed annually. You can find sample policies within the SBDM Handbook.
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School council bylaws: Bylaws are the operating procedures of the school council. These bylaws will help members to effectively and efficiently conduct meetings. Include the last date of review and/or revision with the bylaws. Bylaws need to be reviewed annually.
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Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP): Comprehensive school improvement plans define the school’s goals for the future. The plan includes a needs assessment that points out the priority needs of the school. It lays out the strategies and activities that are implemented to address these priority needs, including the staff’s professional learning requirements.
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Monthly Agenda Item Topics: To assist in planning the monthly meeting agendas, there is a Monthly Agenda Item Topics suggestion guidance document. The topics and reminders are suggestions for consideration when planning agendas for monthly SBDM meetings. Please be mindful that some topics are associated with specific due dates and should be planned for accordingly.
Legislative Guidance
Following the 2026 legislative session, KDE released new guidance to help districts and schools navigate recent changes. This includes two documents addressing specific pieces of legislation, plus a broader overview covering the session’s impact on education more generally. Additional details can be found in the linked resources below:
Required Annual Documents
Pursuant to KRS 158.186, SBDM council members should receive copies of the two statutes linked below:
The attorney general's office requires that the below documents be distributed to council members within 60 days of the beginning of the council's term.
- “The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts” explains the provisions of the Acts.
- “Managing Government Records” provides guidance on how to manage public records and how to keep them organized and accessible.
- “Proof of Receipt” (on the last page of the “The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts” document) must be signed by all council members to verify that they have received copies of “The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts” and “Managing Government Records.” This signed form is kept on file at the school office.
Superintendents verify distribution of the resources by completing the Certificate of Distribution form (also on the last page of the “The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings” document).
These documents also can also be found on KDE’s SBDM Technical Documents webpage. Please ensure SBDM council members receive these documents and sign the Proof of Receipt signature page. Pursuant to KRS 160.395, the distribution may be by an electronic means.
Virtual Council's Role with Continuous Improvement
Last month, KDE hosted a virtual training for experienced council members on "The Council’s Role with Continuous Improvement." We had more than 190 experienced members participate!
During that training, council members learned about their role in developing the comprehensive school improvement plan (CSIP) and had an opportunity to analyze their school’s CSIP with their new knowledge.
Thank you for sharing this learning opportunity with your council members!
KDE SBDM Training Opportunities
KDE offers SBDM training modules at no cost to Kentucky's schools and districts.
On the SBDM Training webpage, you’ll find free materials for SBDM 101, Rise to Proficiency, Roles and Responsibilities and Decisions with Data. You can find the online, self-paced Council’s Role with Continuous Improvement, Roles and Responsibilities and SBDM Leadership: A Principal’s Guide, also.
For more detailed information on each KDE module, as well as other KDE-approved SBDM training modules that are offered by individuals and organizations outside of KDE, please review the SBDM Training Modules Flyer. SBDM trainings are to be conducted by KDE-endorsed district coordinators and SBDM trainers.
Resource Spotlight
Each month, we are highlighting one of KDE’s key resources. We are kicking things off with the most comprehensive one in our toolkit – the SBDM Handbook. Whether you are drafting bylaws, navigating the Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Act, hosting an election or working through staffing allocations, this handbook is your go-to reference for all things SBDM-related.
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